An Arabian Formula One circuit?

According to Heinz Prüller, Niki Lauda went to Dubai in 1978 to advise the Arabs on building a circuit.
Does anybody know which circuit this was?
I don't suppose the circuit mentioned is the Yas Marina Circuit....?
Surely it didn't take the Arabs 32 years to build a circuit, did it?

According to Heinz Prüller, Niki Lauda went to Dubai in 1978 to advise the Arabs on building a circuit.Does anybody know which circuit this was?I don't suppose the circuit mentioned is the Yas Marina Circuit....?Surely it didn't take the Arabs 32 years to build a circuit, did it?

Not Yas Marina. Street circuits were in use prior to the modern Losail, Dubai Motordrome and Sakhir circuits were built.

Thanks for that.
Great story.
A bit of a weird racing event, though. And it almost finished of Fangio before his time!
No mention of Niki Lauda, however. Maybe they decided nog to take any of his advice after all.